INDONESIA’S ROLE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION COOPERATION: POST-IORA CHAIRMANSHIP STRATEGIES

Abstract

The Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF) vision announced by President Joko Widodo in 2014 marked a new
orientation on how Indonesia see its maritime strategic environment. Indonesia has for many years focused on
the Asia Pacific because the region is more conducive for trade liberalization and economic integration. The
GMF requires Indonesia to look beyond Asia Pacific and give more attention to the Indian Ocean region.
Indonesia has been an active member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), a regional forum that seek
to enhance economic cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. This paper explains the importance of IORA
cooperation for Indonesia, its relevance to the GMF vision, and Indonesia’s contribution to the IORA during
its Chairmanship from 2015 to 2017. It argues that during the Chairmanship, Indonesia has given more weight
to IORA’s geopolitical significance in two ways: normative-ideational and institutional initiatives. This paper
also recommends three post-chairmanship strategies that Indonesia can continue to pursue: norms building,
institutional building and capacity building. These initiatives are important to provide stronger platform for
IORA’s development. A successful IORA cooperation will eventually support Indonesia to realize the GMF
goals, particularly in its effort to strengthen Indonesia’s position and presence in the Indian Ocean region.